I started writing poetry when I was 10 and started performing it at 15. When I was 17, I adopted the nom-de-plume of Teri O’Neal and was an active writer and performer of my work through to my early thirties, at which point I met my husband and life-partner, and, for various reasons, virtually stopped writing. However, I always knew that it was still there and that I would go back to it if he was no longer with me. He died suddenly of a heart attack in the middle of the night (age 66), our having been together for over forty years.

Twelve days later I started writing again and continue to do so having finished three books, currently working on a fourth one and having written over 400 poems. The first three books form a trilogy called You are dead (but I am not …). Each book has a sub-title, these being: [or A Diary of Grief]; [or The Second Year]; and [or And Life Goes On]. Each covers a period of a year up to the next anniversary of his death. The fourth book has a working title of The Next Chapter. I write in free verse.  I have also gone back to performing my work at open mic sessions.

The books are in the form of diaries (with the poems being dated/in date (creation) order). They tackle the subjects of shock, grief, loss and widowhood together with trying to find a new identity and way of life. Nonetheless, there are splashes of humour! Above all, I really hope that they would give comfort to people who are either grieving or know others who are. 

You are dead (but I am not …) [or A Diary of Grief] was published by Olympia Publishers in June 2025 and [or The Second Year] on 14^th August 2025. Both books are also available on Kindle through Amazon. The third volume [or And Life Goes On] is currently in production.